Mixer with safety mechanisms

Abstract

A blender for processing comestible matter includes a base with a motor, a blade assembly, and a container. The blender further comprises a first safety mechanism and a second safety mechanism. The first safety mechanism functions to ensure that the container is securely attached to the blade assembly before the blade assembly can be mounted to the base. The second safety mechanism functions to ensure the motor in the base can only be powered on when the container and the blade assembly are securely mounted to the base. The blender is operable by affixing the container to the blade assembly, and then the assembly to the base, such that both safety mechanisms are released to permit the motor to be activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blender comprising:
 a container, said container having an open end and comprising at least one tongue protrusion extending inward from the container; 
 a blade assembly, said blade assembly having:
 a blade holder, said blade holder having an interior surface comprising at least one slot, a collar, and a bottom collar rim formed as a unitary structure; and, 
 a blade, said blade being mounted centrally on said blade assembly; and 
 a blade holder protrusion on said bottom collar rim; 
 wherein said blade assembly is removably affixed to said open end of said container by engaging said tongue protrusion with said slot; 
 
 a base, said base having a motor for operating said blender when said blade assembly is mounted on said base, wherein said base comprises at least one recess to accommodate the blade holder protrusion; 
 a first safety mechanism within said blade assembly movable between a first position and a second position;
 wherein in said first position, said first safety mechanism is misaligned relative to the blade holder protrusion, thereby physically blocking said blade assembly from being operationally affixed on said base; 
 wherein in said second position said first safety mechanism is aligned relative to the blade holder protrusion, thereby allowing said blade assembly to be operationally affixed on said base; 
 wherein said first safety mechanism moves into said second position only when said container is affixed to said blade assembly; 
 
 a second safety mechanism movable between a third position and a fourth position, said second safety mechanism having at least one emitter capable of communicating with at least one detector to enable said motor to be activated;
 wherein in said third position said emitter cannot communicate with said detector; 
 wherein in said fourth position said emitter communicates with said detector to enable said motor to be activated; and, 
 wherein said second safety mechanism moves into said fourth position only when said container is affixed to said blade assembly; 
 
 whereby said blade assembly can only be operationally affixed to said base when said first safety mechanism is in said second position by affixing said container to said blade assembly; 
 whereby said motor can only be activated when said second safety mechanism is in said fourth position by affixing said container to said blade assembly; and, 
 whereby said motor is activated to operate said blender only when said first safety mechanism is in said second position and said second safety mechanism is simultaneously in said fourth position; 
 whereby said first safety and said second safety mechanism operate in tandem at the point of said container and said blade assembly attachment, ensuring said container is affixed to said blade assembly before said blade assembly can be operationally affixed to said base and said motor can be activated. 
 
     
     
       2. The blender according to  claim 1 , said blade assembly further comprising:
 an interior side wall from which the blade holder protrusion extends; 
 a blade impeller coupled to a blade; 
 said blade holder protrusion extending inward toward the blade impeller. 
 
     
     
       3. The blender according to  claim 2 , said base further comprising:
 a motor impeller driven by said motor; and 
 wherein said blade assembly is operationally affixed to said base by coupling said blade impeller with said motor impeller and engaging said blade holder protrusion with said at least one base recess. 
 
     
     
       4. The blender according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one actuator, said actuator being associated with a circuit associated with said motor; 
 wherein said second safety mechanism entering said fourth position causes said actuator to close said circuit. 
 
     
     
       5. The blender according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one nub on said base; 
 at least one retractable ball on said blade assembly; 
 wherein when said blade assembly is operationally affixed to said base, said at least one retractable ball comes in contact with said at least one nub to make an audible sound. 
 
     
     
       6. The blender according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said at least one nub is positioned such that said at least one retractable ball comes into contact with said at least one nub when said blade holder protrusion reaches a terminal end of said base recess, such that said audible sound indicates that said blade holder protrusion has reached said terminal end of said base recess. 
 
     
     
       7. A blender comprising:
 a container with an open-ended side defined by a rim and comprising at least one tongue protrusion; 
 a blade assembly comprising:
 a blade holder, said blade holder having an interior surface comprising at least one slot, a collar, and a bottom collar rim formed as a unitary structure and at least one blade holder protrusion; 
 a blade impeller mounted to said blade holder; and, 
 a blade, said blade mounted centrally on said blade assembly and connected to said blade impeller; 
 
 a base comprising:
 a motor; 
 an impeller driven by said motor; and 
 at least one base recess; 
 
 wherein said container is configured to be affixed to said blade assembly; 
 wherein said blade assembly is configured to be operationally affixed to said base by engaging said blade holder protrusion with said base recess; 
 a first safety mechanism comprising:
 a blocking member within said blade holder moveable between a first position misaligned with the blade holder protrusion, and a second position aligned with the blade holder protrusion; 
 wherein said container rim depresses said blocking member into said second position when said container is affixed to said blade assembly; 
 wherein said blocking member is adapted to block said blade assembly from being operationally affixed to said base in said first position; 
 
 a second safety mechanism comprising:
 at least one emitter within said blade holder movable between a third position and a fourth position; 
 wherein said container rim depresses said emitter into said fourth position when said container is affixed to said blade assembly; 
 
 whereby said motor can only be activated when said container is affixed to said blade assembly and said blade assembly is affixed to said base, with said blocking member in said second position and said emitter in said fourth position.